"I was offended for the fact this guy was in blackface, but I'm sure there were hundreds of other people there. Why did they think this was a good idea?" he said.

'We're upset about it, and we apologize profusely…. The employee will be reprimanded for a horrendous lapse in judgment.'- Canad Inns CEO Paul Robson

In a message left with CBC News late Monday night, the chief executive officer of Canad Inns, Stereo Nightclub's parent company, said the photo was taken down because it was inappropriate and offensive.

"We're upset about it, and we apologize profusely," said Paul Robson. "The employee will be reprimanded for a horrendous lapse in judgment."

Charmaine Nelson says for black people, blackface is offensive in the same way a Nazi swastika is for Jewish people.

Nelson, an associate professor at McGill University who has written extensively on race and representation, said blackface has troubling and violent roots with 19th-century minstrel shows.

She said such shows, which gained popularity after slavery was abolished in the United States, were a nostalgic celebration of slavery and dehumanized black people for entertainment.

Even today, blackface can send a message to black people that they aren't welcome, said Nelson.

Van Deventer, who had called on the club to apologize, said he's still surprised the photo was posted in the first place.

"It could have even been a lot nastier. I'm surprised nothing happened to this guy," he said.

Van Deventer said he's also discouraged that not everyone who shared the photo on Facebook believes there was a problem.

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